What an awesome opening week of basketball! If every week can be as great as this one the rest of the way, we’re in for a highly entertaining season!
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs Tools and metrics.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 150 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
Note: Projections and Leverages Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly. Consult the Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
Point Guard
Stud
Damian Lillard has been a DFS disappointment over his first two games, posting averages of 19.5 points and 9.5 dimes with little in the way of defensive stats. C.J. McCollum, on the other hand, has been huge. We can use that to our advantage tonight. McCollum figures to be the most popular DFS option of Portland’s backcourt,
Lillard sports a 90% Leverage Rating on FanDuel and a 97% Leverage Rating on DraftKings, with a top-three ceiling on both sites. He makes a nice GPP pivot from more popular options like LaMelo Ball and James Harden, who figure to be chalkier plays on tonight’s slate.
Value
Cole Anthony erupted for an incredible stat line Sunday night, going for 29 points, 16 boards, eight dimes, one steal, and just one turnover. He’s got a $4,900 price tag on FanDuel and a $6,200 price tag on DraftKings, giving him a 97% Bargain Rating on FanDuel but a sub-60% Leverage Rating.
Because of the inflated price, he’s projected to have much lower ownership on DraftKings, boosting that Leverage Rating all the way up to 90%. Anthony is a great cash game play on FanDuel and a GPP pivot on DraftKings.
Fast Break
James Harden has played solid basketball thus far, but he hasn’t produced the massive stat lines we’ve come to expect from him throughout his career. Harden has failed to hit his projected fantasy point totals in all three games this season, but despite the negative Plus/Minus, he’s still got the highest ceiling of any point guard on tonight’s slate.
Players who take the plunge on Harden have got to be crossing their fingers that he breaks out in a game with a 229.5-point over/under.
LaMelo Ball has been as good as advertised to start the season, averaging 22.0 points, 6.0 dimes, 5.7 boards, and 2.3 triples over his first three games while leading Charlotte to a 3-0 record. He’s a chalky play
Shooting Guard
Stud
After going for at least 32/6/4 in each of his first two games, Zach LaVine cooled off significantly in the Bulls’ win over the Pistons on Saturday. He wasn’t needed much in that low-scoring affair, and he’ll look to get back on track when the Bulls take on the Raptors tonight. LaVine becomes an even stronger play if Nikola Vucevic (illness) is forced to sit.
Value
Anfernee Simons is a strong Pts/Sal and Projected Plus/Minus guy on tonight’s slate with Norman Powell (knee) ruled out. Nassir Little should see a bump in playing time and even get a start, so he’s a name to consider tonight, too. Over the Blazers’ last two games, Simons has averaged just over 20 fantasy points per contest, and there should be more offensive opportunities available across the board with Powell out.
Fast Break
C.J. McCollum started last season on a tear, and he’s doing the same in 2021-22. So far, McCollum has averaged 31.0 points, 4.5 boards, 3.0 dimes, and 4.0 combined blocks/steals. Those elite numbers make him a strong play on both sites, though his Bargain Rating of 83% shows that he’s a better play on DraftKings thanks to a friendly $7,500 price tag compared to $8,200 on FanDuel.
Small Forward
Stud
Jayson Tatum has the second-highest floor of all players on tonight’s slate, and unlike other stars in his price and ceiling range, he’s got a Projected Plus/Minus of over 11 as well as a Pts/Sal projection of at least 5.7 on both sites. That combination of ceiling and pricing make him a lethal option on tonight’s slate, particularly if Jaylen Brown (knee) misses the contest.
Value
Fresh off his best game of the season, Terrence Ross will look to keep the good times rolling tonight against Miami. He comes in at $4,500 on DraftKings and $4,200 on FanDuel, making him a strong value. Ross’ price has come down significantly since the start of the season, despite averaging over 27 minutes per game and going for 22 points Sunday.
Fast Break
He’s been overshadowed by a pair of 30 burgers and a 360 dunk from Miles Bridges, but Gordon Hayward has quietly logged at least 32 minutes in every game this season while providing his typical substantial production. He’s one of our models’ strongest players in Pts/Sal, Projected Plus/Minus, ceiling, and floor.
Scottie Barnes has averaged 18 points and 10 boards over his first three NBA games, yet he’s still an affordable fantasy option on FanDuel and DraftKings. He’s got a great floor/ceiling combo, and his 90% Leverage Rating on both sites is a great indicator of his upside on tonight’s slate.
Power Forward
Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo doesn’t need many words written about him, as he’s always among the leaders in ceiling on any given slate. This season, he’s gone for at least 20/8/7 with two blocks in two of three contests. Tonight, he’ll face off against a high-scoring Pacers team that’s been getting a ton of production from the likes of Malcolm Brogdon, Chris Duarte, Domantas Sabonis, and Myles Turner. It’s no surprise that the contest features the highest over/under on the slate at a healthy 230.5.
Value
Even at age 35, Al Horford hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. In two games, he’s averaged 14.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 5.0 combined blocks/steals. He comes in at $5,900 on DraftKings and $6,100 on FanDuel. In addition to the strong floor/ceiling, he has a Projected Plus/Minus of at least 10.8 and Pts/Sal of at least 6.5 on both sites, making him an excellent value who can be played at power forward or center on either site.
Fast Break
Michael Porter Jr. was pegged for a breakout this season, but so far, he’s been disappointing. In two games, he’s averaged 11.0 points, 3.5 boards, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 combined blocks/steals while commanding just over a 17% usage rate. His price is still too high based on preseason expectations.
P.J. Washington has been a strong fantasy play over the last two seasons, but his first three games of 2021-22 are rather concerning. So far, he’s logged just 23.3 minutes per game on the court while providing career lows in points, rebounds, blocks, and steals. He’s not a guy to target in DFS lineups right now.
Center
Stud
Nikola Vucevic has posted some monster numbers across his last two games: 25 points, 23 rebounds, 11 combined blocks/steals, and eight assists. He’s questionable tonight due to illness, but if he takes the court, he’s well worth his price tag on both sites. Vooch is one of our Models’ top projected centers in Pts/Sal and Projected Plus/Minus.
Value
Jusuf Nurkic has been solid to start the season, averaging 14.5 points, 13.0 boards, 2.5 dimes, and 1.5 combined blocks/steals over his first two games. He’s a better play on DraftKings based on his 83% Bargain Rating and $7,000 price tag, but he’s still projected for over 5.1 Pts/Sal on both FanDuel and DraftKings despite having to pay $700 more on FanDuel.
Fast Break
Jonas Valanciunas has thrived with the Pelicans thus far, and he’s coming off his best game of the season. In Saturday’s loss to the T-Wolves, he went for 20 points, 17 boards, two assists, and four combined blocks/steals. He’ll face the same team tonight in what should be another productive outing for the still-reasonably-priced Pelicans center.
After a stellar 2020-21 campaign, Robert Williams was poised to continue his dominant play this season. He opened with a 16/10/3/3/5 line over 44 minutes of play. Big things ahead, right? Al Horford re-joined the Celtics’ lineup after Game 1, and Williams’ production has taken a dip. In two games playing alongside Horford, Time Lord has averaged 5.5 points, 5.0 boards, 0.5 assists, and 3.0 combined blocks/steals across 28.0 minutes per contest. He’s a risky play.
